How to Write Characters That Change

How to Write Characters That Change (12-Step Guide)

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Last Updated on July 20, 2022 by Dr Sharon Baisil MD

To write believable and compelling characters that change over the course of your story, you need to understand what causes this change. This 12-step guide will explore the different factors that can lead to character transformation. By understanding these steps, you will be able to create dynamic and interesting characters that your readers will love!

What is the concept of character change?

Before we can start exploring the 12 steps to writing characters that change, we first need to define what character change actually is. Character change refers to a shift in a character’s personality or attitude throughout a story. This can be due to various factors, such as their experiences, relationships they form, or decisions they make.

As writers, it is our job to show readers these changes by developing our character arcs effectively. If done well, character change can add depth and complexity to your story, making readers feel invested in your characters and their journey.

What causes character change?

Many different things can cause a character to change. Some of the most common drivers of change include:

  • Events: When a character experiences something traumatic or life-altering, it can cause them to change their views and attitudes. For example, if a character is in a car accident, they may become more cautious of the world around them.
  • Relationships: Characters can be greatly influenced by the people they meet and interact within the story. A strong friendship or romantic relationship can cause a character to change to better align with the other person’s values or ideals.
  • Decisions: Characters are often forced to make tough decisions with far-reaching consequences. These decisions can lead to characters changing who they are in order to cope with the outcomes.

12 Steps for creating believable changes for your characters

Now that we have a better understanding of character change let’s explore the 12 steps you can take to create believable changes for your own characters.

Step One: Establish what your character wants early on in the story

One of the best ways to ensure that your character arc is effective is to establish what your character wants at the story’s beginning. This could be something concrete, like wanting to find a cure for cancer, or it could be more abstract, like wanting to become a better person. Whatever it is, make sure your readers know what your character is striving for and keep it in mind as you write their journey.

One thing to note: It’s important that whatever your character wants remains relevant throughout the story. If their goals change or they lose sight of what they once wanted, it will be difficult for readers to connect with them emotionally.

Step Two: Cause your character to doubt themselves

One of the best ways to create tension and conflict in a story is to have your characters doubt themselves. This can be done by putting them in situations where they are unsure of their abilities or introducing new information that challenges their beliefs. Doing this will make it difficult for your character to stay on track and keep readers engaged as they try to figure out what happens next.

Step Three: Force them to face their fears

In order to grow, we often need to confront our fears head-on. This is true for characters as well. One great way to get your character moving is to force them to face the things that scare them the most. This can be done in various ways, such as having them confront a villain they’re afraid of or making them go on a dangerous mission.

Step Four: Give them new relationships

One of the best ways to change a character is by giving them new relationships to form. These could be friendships, romantic relationships, or even rivalries. By putting your character in different situations with different people, you will expose them to new ideas and perspectives that can cause them to question their old ones.

Step Five: Change their environment

Another great way to get your character growing is by changing their environment. This could mean moving them to a new town, putting them in a new job, or even sending them on a spiritual journey. Doing this can introduce your character to new challenges and experiences that will cause them to grow in different ways.

Step Six: Present them with difficult decisions

One of the best ways to show a character’s growth is by having them face difficult decisions. These could be moral dilemmas where they have to choose between two bad options or tough choices that could have major consequences. Whatever it is, make sure these decisions are relevant to your character’s story and push them towards their goals.

Step Seven: Give them opportunities for self-reflection

For characters to change, they need time for reflection. This means that you need to give them opportunities to look at themselves in the mirror and ask tough questions. This could be done through introspective moments or conversations with other characters. Doing this will help your readers understand how your character is growing and evolving.

Step Eight: Challenge their worldviews

One of the best ways to get a character thinking is by challenging their worldviews. This could be done by introducing new information that disproves what they believe or putting them in situations where they have to interact with different people. By doing this, you can open up your character’s minds and cause them to grow in new and interesting ways.

Step Nine: Let them make mistakes

As much as we might not want to admit it, humans constantly make mistakes. This is just as true for our characters. One great way to show their growth is by having them make mistakes and learn from them. This could be something small like forgetting to bring an important item or something more serious like making a bad decision that hurts someone they care about. By doing this, you can help your readers understand how your character is growing and evolving.

Step Ten: Give them a victory

To truly see a character’s growth, it’s important to give them a victory. This could be something big like saving the world or something smaller like learning a new skill. Whatever it is, make sure it’s relevant to your story and has a significant impact on your character’s development.

Step Eleven: Show their growth over time

One of the best ways to show a character’s growth is showing it over time. This could mean having multiple scenes that take place at different points in the story or even using flashback sequences. By doing this, you can help your readers understand how your character is growing and evolving.

Step Twelve: Let them change others

Finally, one of the most powerful ways to show a character’s growth is by having them change others. This could be done by inspiring them with their words or actions, leading them by example, or even helping them find their own path in life. Whatever it is, make sure it showcases the power of your character’s growth and leaves a lasting impression on those who witness it.

These are just a few of the steps you can take to write characters that change in your story. You can create unforgettable characters who grow and evolve before your readers’ eyes by following these guidelines.

7 examples of well-crafted character change in literature

One of the most important aspects of literature is a character change. By watching characters grow and evolve over the course of a story, readers can see different aspects of themselves in a new light. In this section, we will take a look at seven examples of character change in literature.

#1. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

The protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield, starts off as a rebellious teenager trying to find his place in the world but ends up growing into a more thoughtful and mature young man. Holden’s growth is palpable to the reader, and they can see firsthand how he changes and grows as a person.

#2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Scout Finch, the protagonist of To Kill a Mockingbird, goes through an amazing transformation in the novel. At first, she is a young child who doesn’t understand the world around her, but she eventually becomes an insightful observer who understands racism and injustice. Scout’s growth is inspiring to read about, and it serves as a reminder that anyone can change for the better if they are willing to try.

#3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The protagonist of The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby, is a fascinating character who undergoes a lot of change over the course of the novel. He starts off as an idealistic young man who is in love with Daisy Buchanan but eventually becomes a bitter and resentful figure. Jay’s transformation is intriguing to read about, and it provides readers with a unique perspective on what can happen when someone’s dreams are shattered.

#4. Dune by Frank Herbert

The protagonist of Dune, Paul Atreides, is a young man eager to take on the challenge of leading his people but eventually becomes a powerful and feared figure. Paul’s growth is captivating to read about, and it helps to make him one of the most iconic characters in science fiction.

#5. Sula by Toni Morrison

The protagonist Sula is a young girl trying to find her place in the world but eventually becomes an independent woman who is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. Sula’s growth is admirable, and it makes her a protagonist that readers can truly root for.

#6. Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The protagonist of Tender is the Night, Dick Diver was a successful psychiatrist who is married to a beautiful woman but eventually becomes a broken man who cannot save his marriage. Dick’s transformation is tragic to read about, but it makes for a powerful story.

#7. Rites of Passage by William Golding

Ralph, the protagonist, is a young boy trying to find his place in the world but eventually becomes a leader who can bring order to the chaos. Ralph’s growth is admirable, and it makes him a character that readers can truly root for.

What is the importance of character change in a story?

When done well, character change can be an important tool for helping readers connect with a story. By watching characters grow and evolve over the course of a story, readers can see different aspects of themselves in a new light. This can be an illuminating experience that helps broaden their understanding of the world around them. Additionally, character change can add depth and complexity to a story, making it more engaging and interesting to read.

5 Benefits of writing characters that change

Here are five key benefits of making your characters change throughout your story:

Benefit #1: Characters that change can be more relatable

One of the main reasons character change is so important is that it makes characters more relatable to readers. When we watch characters grow and evolve over the course of a story, we can see different aspects of ourselves in them. This can be an enlightening experience that helps us to understand ourselves better. Additionally, it can be comforting to know that even the most well-established characters can still change and grow in meaningful ways.

Benefit #2: Characters changes can add depth and complexity to the story

Another great benefit of writing characters that change is adding depth and complexity to a story. By seeing different sides of characters, readers can understand them more in-depth. Additionally, character change can help to keep the plot exciting and engaging by introducing new challenges and obstacles for the characters to overcome.

Benefit #3: Character changes make your book more interesting to read

One of the main reasons people enjoy reading is that it allows them to experience different things. Characters that change can add a new level of intrigue and excitement to a story, making it more interesting to read. Additionally, character change can help to show the complexities of human nature, which is always fascinating to explore.

Benefit #4: Characters that change can be more relatable to readers

When done well, character change can be an important tool for helping readers connect with a story. By watching characters grow and evolve over the course of a story, readers can see different aspects of themselves in them. This can be an enlightening experience that helps broaden their understanding of the world around them. Additionally, character change can add depth and complexity to a story, making it more engaging and interesting to read.

Benefit #5: Characters that change can be more emotionally compelling

Finally, one of the most important benefits of writing characters that change is that they can be more emotionally compelling. By exploring the different emotions that characters go through, readers can connect with them on a deeper level. Additionally, character change can help to show the different sides of human nature, which is always fascinating to explore.

When done well, character change can be an important tool for helping readers connect with a story. By watching characters grow and evolve over the course of a story, readers can see different aspects of themselves in them. This can be an enlightening experience that helps broaden their understanding of the world around them. Additionally, character change can add depth and complexity to a story, making it more engaging and interesting to read.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many great reasons to write characters that change when the story progresses. By doing so, you can create a more relatable, interesting, and emotionally compelling story that your readers will love. So don’t hesitate to add character change into your writing. Thanks for reading!

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